Waerea-Hargreaves toys with rugby return

Kiwis prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, arguably the best rugby league front-rower in the world, has revealed he could return to rugby union when his contract runs out with the Sydney Roosters in two years’ time.

The 15-man code was Waerea-Hargreaves’ first love, and despite his success in the NRL and at international level for New Zealand, he remains passionate about the sport.

Waerea-Hargreaves emigrated to Australia from Rotorua 10 years ago and was such a rising rugby star, he played for Australia at the 2007 U19 World Championship, alongside Peter Betham, Pat McCabe, Ben McCalman, Rob Simmons and James Hanson, who all went on to play for the Wallabies.

He was on the books at the Waratahs, but the Sydney-based Super Rugby side fooloishly only offered him a two-year part-time contract and he opted instead to link up with the Manly Sea Eagles in the NRL.